On the Cust

Saving the lagoon

And so the tumult and the shouting die while the people take time to consider. In the meantime, what of Waituna?
  The last report was that the catchment farmers had decided to go it alone, because they "know their land"., while DairyNZ, having found a scapegoat to let the rest of the industry off the hook, has swiftly moved off stage.
  The trouble, of course, is that most of the farmers don't "know the land" in this context. Most are new to intensive dairy farming and many are new to the catchment. Even with the best of intentions , it's hard to see them contributing too much to the health of the lagoon.
  Things have gone too far for that. There is a need for serious science and serious money beyond the reach of the individual farmer, and no sign whatever that the industry intends to supply either if it can help it. By its nature, Waituna was always going to be the bellwether for an intensive dairy system that had so many people worried.
  The industry, fixated by its self anointed title of "best in the world" and bouyed by Government support and monopoly, has only ever been interested in production.
  Downstream consequences have been left to take care of themselves, so if the industry won't take that responsibility, someone else must.
  That someone has to be Environment Southland.
  We have councillors who have grasped the nettle and skilled staff who know science.
  We owe them our support.

JOHN PUREY-CUST
Gore